What we can do.

Submitted by Marge (United States), Jun 3, 2013 at 23:24

The Saudis were supposed to have outlawed slavery in what 1962, 1963? I have talked to people in the 1970's who witnessed an incident of Middle Eastern people bringing a slave woman to NC. Then I had to argue with these American women about slavery. They told me that the people who owned slaves didn't know any better because of their culture. I couldn't believe it.

I reminded them of the Civil War. In fact I have an ancestor who was with the Palmetto Soldiers of SC and he died in US Custody after being wounded in Gettysburg. He owned no slaves. His wife's family was wealthier and did have slaves. But the Bell family who didn't believe in slavery apparently believed in doing their part to defend the Confederacy that had war declared on it BECAUSE THE RICH PEOPLE WOULDN"T RELEASE THEIR SLAVES. The richer people become if they have no moral leaning, they think people deserve to be slaves or work for nearly nothing.

I am one of the 45% Romney had no compassion for and under the Obama administration I am seeing a cut in my SSI. I think that anyone who thinks slavery is okay is someone with no compassion. I don't know what the average person's impression of the modern southerner is but every day I live I do think of the innocent people who were brought here long ago; their freedom taken and their families split and how they toiled for generations here. I feel like their spirit is here. I have read quite a lot and I know where the places are where it was partiliculary brutal for them. There is a Mt. Misery Road in Leland, NC. And near beautiful Brookgreen Gardens there was the Barn red with the blood of whipped slaves.

I think the least I can do is learn about the people who experienced it. Not because someone wants me to but because I feel like it. Not out of guilt which I suppose would only be natural. But out of caring. Human beings should be caring. It should come natural. It should be something we are born with. So that is the beef I had with my friends. A heart should tell you slavery is wrong.

A young Muslim student told me in the 1980's that the Muslims were going to take over the United States one day and the southerners would get their slaves back. I told him I don't want slaves. He asked why. He said I had to have slaves. I said I don't want to be responsible for another human being. If I was in charge of someone's life, I would have to treat them well because that is the way I am. I have a temper but I have a brain and a heart too. Who wants to be responsible for someone else's life?

He didn't have the heart to know that you have to treat people with fairness and compassion. If you have it then you can't own someone. Everyone has rights. It was as if he didn't understand the concept. We have to TEACH THEM. We don't do that by diplomatic immunity. Perhaps I would rather go back to horse and buggy days and ride the train if this is what cars are giving us: Sharia Law.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".